Apparatus for making roofing tile



Oct. 24, 1939.

D. BRQWN El AL APPARATUS FOR MAKING ROOFING TILE Fiied Aug. 4, 1936 5Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 24, 1939. D. BROWN ET AL APPARATUS FOR MAKINGROOFING TILE Filed Aug. 4, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 24, 1939. D. BROWNET AL APPARATUS FOR MAKING ROOFING TILE Filed Aug. 4, 1936 5Sheets-sheaf 3 Oct. 24, 1939. D. BROWN ET AL APPARATUS FOR MAKINGROOFINGTILE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 4, 1936 Oct. 24, 1939. 4 D BROWN L2,177,607

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ROOFING TILE Filed Aug. 4, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Patented Oct. 24, 1939 2,177,607 I APPARATUS FOR MAKING ROOFING TILEDavis Brown and Joseph B. Peeblee, Loo Angelou, and Bruner MooreBurchiiel, Glendale, Colin: said Peeblel and said Burohiiei alsignors tosaid Brown Application August 4, 1936, Serial No. 94,184

Our invention relates to a roofing tile having a longitudinal edgeinterlocking between adjacent tile, such interlock being of a type inwhich the drainage or seepage of water at the longitudiml tile Joints iscarried downward in part of the interlocking'construction and thusdrains on to the lower tiles of a roof. Another feature of our inventionas to the tile is in providing a sealed end closure for a tile with ribson its underside,

1 such closure thus when interfitted by an overlap with other tilesprevents seepage of water upward in the grooves formed between the ribs"on the underside of the tile and also permits a lesser overlap of thetiles. Another feature involving the sealed end and the interlockingchannel of adjacent tiles is in having the channel terminate slightlyshort of the sealed end so that an ad jacent tile has its sealed endextend over and below the end of the channel used for interlocking theadjacent tile.

A characteristic therefore of our invention as it relates to the tile,is that each individual tile has a series of longitudinal ribs on itsunderside thus forming grooves between the ribs. At the margin orlongitudinal side of each tile a longitudinal channel is formed and theedge of the ad- Jacent tile has a downtumed partial rib which interfitswith the said channel. In addition the lower end of each tile is roundedover forming a seal across the ribs. This gives a convex curve to thelower end of each tile considered on a longitudinal section and thusforms with the ribs flat undersurface portions to fit on the flat top ofan under tile. The sealed lower end of each tile where it is turneddownwardly engages over the end of the marginal channel of the adjacenttile, such channel being slightly shorter than the total length of thetile.

A further object and feature'of our invention is in the method ofmanufacturing tile in a continuous and in effect, automatic manner. Inthis a ribbon of clay is forced through a suitable extruding machinewhich forms the ribbon with continuous longitudinal ribs on itsunderside, these ribs being all of the .same depth. In addition at oneedge there is a partial rib, this being about half the depth of theother ribs. On the other margin a channel is formed facing upwardly andthis has a longitudinal rim on its outer underside of the main body ofthe rib. A further edge, such rim terminating in a plane of the after apredetermined amount of such ribbon has been fed on to the carriage andthen the cutting of the ribbon to form both ends of the tile and thesealed end is done in one operation, this operation also cutting off ashort waste strip. The cutting 5 is done during a longitudinal motion ofthe cutters and the press for sealing the end so that the longitudinalspeed of these cutters equals the iongitudinal speed of the ribbon ofclay. Thus, in the action of cutting the ribbon into tile lengths, 10 anotch is cut out of one corner at the end of the interlocking channel,the lower end of each tile is sealed or rounded off, this also forming ashort waste strip, the opposite end is cut by a shear cut transverse tothe clay ribbon and at the same 15 time nail holes are punched adjacentthe upper edge of the tile.

Another object and feature of our invention relates to the machine forforming the tile. In this machine certain old devices are used such as20 a known construction for extruding a ribbon of clay, the extrudedribbon being forced longitudinally over a reciprocating carriage whichcarriage is given an initial impulse near the extrusion portion of theassembly and takes up a 25 speed of longitudinal movement equal to thatof the ribbon of clay. The carriage is provided with cuttersautomatically operated to cut the ribbon while it is moving and in thesame operation to sever a short length forming a waste length, thisbeing variable.

In this general type of machine one of the improvements embodied in thisinvention is in the assembly of vertically reciprocating cutters anddies for severing the ribbon into lengths and then pressing one end of ashingle length downwardly, that is, forcing the web portion of theshingle down at the ends of the ribs to form the end seal, this beingoperated by a hydraulic engine which has an oscillating action. One ofthe difllculties 4o encountered in prior machines having cutters notoperated by oscillating engines is the abrupt stop at the end of thestroke, but with our improved engine a cushioning action is obtainedwhich decelerates the cutters at the end of their as stroke, thusreducing the vibration and impact of the cutter mechanism. Anotherfeature of our invention relates to a valve control for the oscillatingengine, this being actuated by the reciprocating carriage through themedium of an os- 5o cillating arm having a pawl and ratchet and a geardrive to an eccentric, this eccentric by means of a link operating thecontrol valve for the oscillating engine. Other detail features of themachine involve the construction of combination 5;

' dash-pots and impulse cylinders for imparting the initial startingmovement of the carriage together with a return action cylinder formoving the carriage back to its initial position after the completion ofthe stroke and the cutting of the shingle.

Our invention is illustrated in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in-which:

Fig. i is a side elevation of the machine assembly taken in thedirection-of the-arrow I of Fig. 3 or 6, this showing the carriage inthe initial position at the start of its longitudinal movement with theribbon of clay and in which the cutters are illustrated elevated.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1 but showing the carriage atthe end or finish of its stroke and as it is about to be returned to itsinitial position, the cutting being completed and the cutters againelevated.

Fig. 3 is a plan of a portion of the machine showing the part of thecarriage taken in the direction of the arrow 3 of Fig. 4, omitting how-'ever, the hydraulic operating mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 44 of Fig. 3 takenin the direction of the arrows showing part of the oscillating hydraulicmotor in elevation and a portion of the cutters and dies for forming theshingle, these being in tiles on the line m4: of Fig.15 in the directionan elevated position.

Fig. 5 is a partial longitudinal section similar to Fig. 4 but showingthe cutters and dies in their lowermost position when severing anddiepressing the shingle end.

Fig. 6 is an end elevation taken in the direction of the arrow 8 of Fig.3 or 4 illustrating principally an end view of the hydraulic engine andthe cutter and die-pressing and severing assembly.

Fig. 7 is a detail transverse section on the line '|-'I of Fig. 4 of theengine showing details of the engine broken away. y

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of the engine on a reduced scale takenon the line 8-8 of Fig. 6 or '7.

Fig. 9 is a detail of the engine showing features of the ports of theengine, such figure being taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a detail vertical longitudinal section on the line iii-l0 ofFig. 11 partly broken away showing the upper surface and the channel atone side. I

Fig. 14 is a perspective reverse view of the tile showing the full ribs,the half rib on one edge and the underside of the channel.

Fig. 15 is a plan of an assembly of tiles in a roofing.

Fig. 16 is a transverse section of two. adjacent of the arrows.

Our invention as it relates to the tile is illustrated particularly inFigs. 13 through 16 in which the individual tile is indicated by thenumeral II. This is formed from a continuously molded ribbon of claywhich has a web l2 with swam formed, there being a narrow groove .il

such marginal half rib or rim and the next adjacent full rib II. It willthus be seen that the upper surface of the ribbon presents a smoothsurface of the web of the tile except that on one margin there is formeda longitudinal channel l'l, this being on the side opposite that havingthe half rib or rim II. This channel has a marginal half rib or rim IS.The base or underside ll of the channel is on the same plane as thebottom edge 20 of the main ribs i3 so that the half rim or rib I8 isapproximately the same in vertical measurement as the half'rib or rim IIon the opposite side of the ribbon. The inner face-2i of the channel I1is thus in eflect a portion of the side face of a rib. It will beunderstood that as the ribbon of clay is extruded in a continuousoperation that the web, the various interior ribs, the marginal rim I!on one side and the channel structure H on the opposite side are formedin a continuous manner and that the individual tiles are made by cuttinginto proper lengths. In this cutting a transverse cut is made whichforms the upper end 25 of an individual tile, this severing the web, thevarious'internal ribs, the marginal rim l5 and the channel structure II.This cut is at right angles to the plane of the ribbon. Hie lower end ofthe tile is formed with a sealed end 26. This is made by die-pressingthe web portion downwardly forming connected cross blocks 21 between theribs and also partially widening or spreading the ends of the ribs l3adjacent their lower end as indicated at 28. The characteristic of thesealed end 28 is that it has a convex rounded curvature 29 merging withthe top surface of the web [2 and this convex curve or nose merges intoa sloping end edge iii which forms an obtuse angle-with the plane of theweb of the tile. The sealed end has a transverse under edge 3| which isin the same plane as the bottom it of the channel and of the lower edges20 of the main ribs l3.

In the same operation in which the sealed end is die-pressed in shape, anotch 35 is formed at the lower end of the channel structure ll. This isdone by making a transverse out which severs the half rib or rim l8 ofthe channel, the bottom of the channel leaving an end face 36. Thisaction also makes an end cut 31 in a portion of the lateral rib 38.There is also a longitudinal cut 39 made in this rib from the sealed end28. This leaves a right angular corner til at the transverse cut of thechannel I! at its end face 36 and the side face 39 cut in therib 38.

To interfit with this the rim it joins with the sealed end 26 on ajunction line ll which is positioned slightly above the lower edge ll ofthe sealed end as shown in Fig. 14. It will be noted that in forming theribs, the center ribs [3 have a small fillet 42 where they join the webi2. The rib 38 adjacent the channel II has a larger fillet or slopingside wall 43. Also the rib M which is adjacent the groove I also has alarge fillet I5 or sloping inner edge. This construction at the the nailholes may be made much closer to the upper end of the tile than in theusual tile as it is not necessary to have such an overlap of. the tileswhen laid up on a roof.

In setting up the tiles they interfit as shown in Fig. 16 in which itwill be seen that the rim I5 on one side of a tile fits in the channel II on the edge portion of an adjacent tile. It will be noted that the rimI8 on the outside of the channel II, being of half the rib heighth,substantially engages the underslde of the web I2 whereas the edge ofthe rim I5 substantially engages the bottom of the channel II. Theoutside of the rim I5 is in close engagement with the longitudinal edgesurface 2| of the channel I1 and the rim I8 is in close engagement withthe rib 44 of an adjacent tile.

The corner portion of the sealed end 26 of the tile at its junction withthe rib I 5 fits in the notch 35 formed by cutting the channel I! ashorter length than the main body of the tile so this gives a sealacross the end of the channel II. Therefore any water seeping betweenadjacent tiles and flowing down this channel is directed downwardly ontothe tiles immediately below in a roof structure.

Our invention, so far as the machine assembly is concerned, has thefollowing main features in which an extruding machine 50 extrudesthrough a die 5| forming a ribbon of clay 52. This is received by atransfer table 53 mounted on a substantial frame structure 54. Thisframe structure forms a mounting and track for the carriage designatedby the assembly numeral 55. The carriage is mounted on wheels in theusual manner to facilitate its reciprocating movement. The shinglesafter being formed are conveyed from the machine by an out-feedingconveyor 56, this travelling at a higher rate of speed than the ribbonof clay to lead the cut tiles quickly away from the machine.

Certain characteristics of the carriage 55 is that this has a carriagebed 51 with marginal guides 58 and 59 (note Fig. 6), these being formedof angle-irons and between such angle-irons there are longitudinalstraps 60 which'fit the grooves between the main rib. There is also aside strap M with a, longitudinal recessed edge 62 which accommodatesthe marginal rim I5. These straps and the angles have a somewhat pointedend 63 to facilitate feeding the ribbon of clay over these straps. Thestraps have a slightly beveled end 64 remote from the end 63. Themachine is provided with a cutting and die-pressing assembly 65. Thishas an upper frame 66 supported on four vertically reciprocating rods61, these being connected to longitudinal angles 68 forming part of thetop frame 66, this frame being adjustable on these rods. The rods passdownwardly through tubular guides 69 forming part of the carriage bed orsecured thereto in any suitable manner. The lower ends of these rods areconnected to a lower frame I0. This frame has longitudinal angles II andcross or transverse angles I2.

The cutters include a transverse severing blade 15 which is illustratedas secured to a transverse angle-iron F6 extending between the lon itudnal angles 68 of the top frame 66 and is adjustabe longitudinally toregulate the length of the t le. Punches I! are also secured to theangle-iron 16 to punch the nail holes.

The die 80 for forming the sealed end on the tile has a sloping blade 8|depending from a cross strap 82 located between the longitudinal anglesII. This blade slopes at an angle upwardly and towards the severingblade I5 and forms the main portion of the end seal 26 giving the' slopeto the end 30 and by the downward flow of clay adjacent the top surfaceof the web forms the convex curve 29. This die has a longitudinallyextending blade section 82' and an outwardly extending shearing blade 83which forms the notch 36. The longitudinal shearing part 82' cuts thelongitudinal cut 39 of the notch and the outwardly extending shearingblade 83 gives the transverse cut 36 and 37 atthe end of the channelstructure I1. Forming the notch causes a sl ght waste in the clay ribbonforming the tile.

The cutter assembly with the blade and the end seal forming die isvertically reciprocated by an oscillating engine 85. This engine has acrank shaft 86 extending therethrough with a crank 87 on each end. Fromeach crank there depends a connecting rod 88 which is pivotallyconnected at 89 to a cross or transverse angle I2 which angles form ineifect a cross head. The engine has two similar end heads 90 (noteparticularly Figs. 6. 7, 8 and 9) which have a supporting base 9I boltedto a cross channel 92 which forms part of the machine carriage. Betweenthese heads there is a ring 93 cylindrical on its inside surface, thisring fitting against shoulders 94 of the end heads and the assemblybeing attached by bolts 95. Secured to the lower part of the ring 93there is a somewhat triangular abutment block 96 which has a lowercircular edge 91 fitted on the inside of the ring and radial edges 98.This abutment has an upper curved edge 99 which has a close operatingfit with the center hub I of the crank shaft 86. The abutment 96 isattached to the ring 93 by bolts IN. The two opposite radial edges 98have a transverse recess I02. This construction forms a cylinder spaceI03 defined by the inside of the ring 93 and the radial edges 98 of theabutment block 96 and the engine heads 90. A radial piston I04 issecured to the hub I00.

The ports on both sides of the abutment block 96 are the same, therebeing a main port I I 0 lead ing through a head 90. A fluid duct II Iextends longitudinally and then somewhat radially outwardly as indicatedat II2, having an opening H3 at a boss H4, in which boss there isthreaded a hydraulic supply and exhaust pipe II5. A secondary port H6 ispositioned to lead through a head 90 into one end of the recess I02 andpartly into the space outside of the radial face 98 of the block 96.From this port there is a longitudinal duct H1 and a somewhat radialduct II 8, this communicating with the duct I I I which leads to themain port IIO. A valve plug H9 in the form of a bolt is threaded in aperforation I20 in the head and intersects the end of the duct III. Thusby adjusting the valve plug II9 by the bolt and lock nut I2I (note Fig.9), the fiow of 'fiuid through the port I I6 may be regulated.

The two supply pipes II have elbows I22 and than are two longitudinalpipes I23 and I24 (note Figures 1 and 2), which are supported in thecarriage and from each of these there is a fiexble hose I25 and I28leading to couplings I21 and I28 of a control valve I29. This valve maybe of the usual character and has an inlet connection I30 from ahydraulic pump and return I3I to the pump or a reservoir. The gearedoperation of the valve I29 has an assembly I35 in which a housing I36has a main shaft I37 mounted therein on which shaft there is a looselymounted lever I38 operating through a slot I39 in the housing (noteFigs. and 11). This lever has carriage.

a deep notch I40 and a stop abutment I4I. A pin I42 on the carriageengages the notch. The lever in its movement of oscillation between thepositions shown in Figs. 1 and 2 positions the notch as in Fig. 2 to beengaged by the pin on the return movement of the carriage. A fixedbracket I43 has a set screw I44 to engage the abutment HI and thusadjust the movement of the lever I38. 'A pawl I45 is pivoted on thelever and operates a ratchet I48 which has a gear I41 secured thereto,both being mounted on the shaft I31. This gear meshes with a pinion I48on the pinion shaft I40, this pinion carrying an eccentric I50 fromwhich eccentric an adjustable link I5I operates the valve plunger I52,thus controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the oscillatingengine 85.

The mechanism for initiating the movement of the carriage with theribbon of clay and the return of the carriage at the end of itsstroke'may be arranged somewhat in the manner of the patent applicationto Davis Brown for Automatic brick and tile cutter, Ser. No. 44,727,filed October 12, 1935, matured to Patent No. 2,058,663 issued October27, 1936. In this we employ a rotary timing wheel I60. This is mountedon a lever I6I fulcrumed at I62 on a stand I63 extending upwardly fromthe frame of the machine and having a counterweight I64. This measuringor timing wheel has an electric timer connected thereto, the wheel beingrotated by the web of the ribbon of clay. This timer is electricallyconnected to a solenoid I65 (note Figs. 1 and 2) which operates a bellcrank I66, of which one end I61 operates the valve plunger I68. Theopposite end I69 is positioned to be engaged by an abutment I10 on thecarriage. The valve plunger controls a valve "I which regulates theoperation of a cylinder I12 having a plunger I13. This plunger is forcedoutwardly to engage the abutment I10 and return the carriage to itsinitial or starting position. This assembly may be designated as thecarriage return mechanism. A combination dashpot and initial impulsemechanism I15 (note Figures 1 and 12) has a cylinder I16 with a plungerI11 therein, this plunger engaging a second abutment I18 on the Ahydraulic fluid pipe I18 leads from this cylinder to a storage tankunder hydraulic pressure and is interconnected with the supply pipe, notillustrated, to the valve Hi, this valve having waste connections I andii. The general action of the hydraulic impulse mechanisms for startingand returning the carriage thus employs the cylinder I15 acting as adashpot when the carriage is returned to its initial position by theaction of the plunger I13 being pushed out. When this plunger I13 isretracted, the plunger I11 of the first impulse mechanism is forcedoutwardly starting the carriage on its work stroke. This is only astarting impulse as the friction of the ribbon of clay over the carriagecauses the carriage to move at the same rate of speed as the clay. Thetiming wheel I60 with its electric timer operating the solenoid I65 thuscontrols the return movement of the carriage and hence the timing of theinitial movement.

The operation of cutting the tile and die-.

pressing the end is substantially as follows: When the carriage is givenits initial movement from the position shown in Fig. 1 towards that ofFig. 2, the oscillation of the arm I38 of the gear con.- trol I35 issufficient to rotate the eccentric I50 one half a turn, thus operatingthe valve plunger I52 and actuating the control valve 28. This has aflexible; hose connection to the oscillating engine 85. Presuming thepiston' I04 is at one extreme of its stroke as shown in Fig. 7, the sideface ofthe piston has one of the ports IIO c1osed at this instance, thisbeing a pressure or inlet port, the opposite similar port being anexhaust. However pressure fluid is .by-passed from the large duct III(note Fig. 9) through the ducts I I8 and H1 to the small port I I6, 9.part of which port is always uncovered by the recess I02. This gives aninitial action of starting the piston in one direction of movement, thisgiving a relatively slow acceleration. Then when the port II 0 isuncovered due to the movement of the piston, the full hydraulic pressureis exerted on the pressure face of such piston, giving a quick andpowerful stroke for rotating the crank shaft 86 and thereby either.moving the cutter mechanism downwardly or upwardly. This operates in onedirection at each half oscillation of the piston and crank shaft.

The cushioning action to secure a gradual deceleration is caused by thepiston I04 when adjacent the end of its stroke, cutting off the mainport IIO which is functioning at the moment as an exhaust. This causes atrapping of fluid between the face of the piston and one of the faces 08of the block 86. However such fluid is forced outwardly through therecess I02 and through the small port II6, the by-pass ducts H1 and H8into the main ducts III and H2. Such action therefore reduces the jar atboth ends of the vertical stroke of the cutting mechanism mounted on thecarriage and travelling therewith.

In this cutting action the transverse cutter blade 15 is brought down atpredetermined periods during which time a ribbon of the clay has beenfed, thus giving a' series of cuts, two of which are indicated at I inFig. 5. At the same time the die cutter 80 makes a severance cut I86 aswell as die-pressing the end of the tile. Thus there is a small wastepiece I81 left between the severance I86 and the transverse cut I85.This waste piece also includes the small waste block cut out at thenotch 35. This waste piece drops through an opening and is not fed onthe out-feeding conveyor belt 56.

An important feature from the construction and operational standpointrelates to the die designated by the assembly numeral 80 illustrated forinstance in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and 6. Such die has an upwardly andrearwardly sloping blade 8i, this sloping towards the rear severingblade 15. The cutting edge of this sloping blade is horizontal and thusparallel to the bed of the carriage. However the sloping part of thisblade does not extend the full width of the clay ribbon from which thetile is formed and cut but at the left hand end considered facing in aforward direction of the movement of the ribbon, there is alongitudinally extending blade section 82' which is vertical as clearlyshown in Fig. 6. At the rear end of this latter blade there is theshearing blade 83 which is also vertical as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Thusin the operation as shown in connection with Fig. 5, the shearing blade15 cuts through the ribbon of clay, making a vertical cut and completelysevering the web and the various ribs. The action of the die and inparticular the sloping blade 8| in its downward movement engages theribbon back of the right hand out I85 shown in Fig. 5. On account of therearwardly and upwardly inclined slope of 2,177,007- wardly and the endsof the ribs :0, note m. 14,

must be expanded and this expanding action is taken care of by thebeveled ends 84 of the longitudinal straps ill forming a slight filletshown in P18. 14. The characteristics of the action of the longitudinalblade 82' and the cross blade 83 is at the same time to form alongitudinal cut in the clay forming the surface 19 shown inFig. 13

and to make the cut crosswise at the right angular corner ll, leavingexposed the surfaces II and 31. This cuts out' the notch designated asll, Fig. 18. Inthis action the cutting edges at the bottom. of the die,that is. the cutting edge of the sloping blade 8| and of the blades 82'and 83 are all on the same level and thus cut through the web, the ribsand the channel structure giving the formation at the end of the tileshown in Figs. 13 and 14 and developing a slight waste strip I81 whichincludes the portion cut out to form the notch 35. a I a Various changesmay be made in the details of the construction without departing fromthe spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a machine for making roofing tile in which a shaping means shapesthe material of a tile to form a web exposed to the weather and spacingribs under the web to support the tile on a roof structure, thecombination of a movable transverse die having a bottom cutting edgeparallel to the web'and a pressure face sloping upwardly and rearwardly,that is, towards the body of the tile from the transverse edge, means topress said die downwardly to engage the top surface of the web, the edgeforming a transverse cut through the web and the pressure facedistorting or depressing a portion of the web adjacent theretodownwardly to fill" the end spaces between the ribs and the web. thesaiddie at the same time producing a small waste piece the tile material.

2. In a machine for making roofing tile as claimed in claim 1, aplurality of' longitudinal straps positioned underneath the web andfitting between the ribs and the web of the tile material, such strapshaving a bevel at their forward edge whereby the die in distorting theweb also distorts the ends of the ribs forming a fillet at the bevelededge of the straps adjoining the web and the ribs.

3. In a machine for making roofing tile in which a tile material isshaped to have a web for exposure to the weather and a pluralityoflongitudinally extending ribs on the underside to support the tile on aroof with spaces together with an upwardly faced channel along one edge,the combination of a die having a bottom cutting edge parallel to theweb and an upwardly and rearwardly sloping pressure face sloping fromthe edge towards the body of the tile, the die at one end having alongitudinal and a transverse severing blade connectedtto the slopingface of the die and having their cutting edges in alignment with thebottom edge of the die, and means to 1 reciprocate the die and therebysever the web which a ribbon of clay is continuously extruded and shapedand having means for forming a tile with a continuous web to form aweather surface and with ribs with grooves between the ribs to therebyspace the web from a roof when the tiles are so set up in a roof, thecombination of a movable tile cutting implement including a rearwardtransverse cutting blade to sever the ribbon and a forward die with ablade sloping upwardly and rearwardly from its bottom cutting edge toengage the ribbon of clay, the said sloping blade having a structural.characteristic to press an end portion of the we downwardly, at the sametime severing the b and the ribs from an adjacent section of the ribbon,the sloping blade being adapted to press the web of clay downwardly toform a transverse rib-like sealing structure for the said spaces whenthe ,tile is built up into a roof and forming a waste piece of theribbon defined by a cut made by the transverse cutting and die blades.

5. In a machine for forming roofing tile as claimed in claim 4, the'saiddie having a short transverse severing blade and a longitudinal bladeadjoining the end of the die and positioned rearwardly thereof havingthe structural characteristic to cut a notch in a section of the ribbonof clay which forms a tile and operative to form a notch adjacent theturn-down end of the web at one side thereof.

I 6. In a tile forming machine having means to develop a ribbon of claywith a web and ribs on 'the underside, the combination of areciprocating carriage having straps fitting in grooves between theribs, the said straps having beveled forward ends, a reciprocating diemounted on the carriage, said die having a rearward inclined face fromits lower edge,- means tomove the die through the ribbon from the webside to sever the web and the ribs and at the same time press ribs, thecombination of a reciprocating carriage,-

a cutter and die-pressing assembly on the carriage havinga reartransverse severing blade and die positioned forwardly of the saidblade,

said die having a rear face sloping upwardly and rearwardly from itsbottom edge towards the severing blade, means to move the cutting anddie pressing assembly downwardly as a unit to develop a series oftransverse cuts in the ribbon of clay by the severing blade and to formcuts by the lower edge of the die and the sloping rear face of the dieproducing a downward distortion of the web and the ends of the ribswhereby the downwardly distorted web forms a closure at one end of thegroove of the tile out between the severing blade and the die, the saiddie being operative to develop a waste piece of the ribbon between thedie and a previous cut made by the severing blade.

8. In a tile forming machine as claimed in claim 7, the means fordeveloping a ribbon of clay having means for shaping the side edge ofthe ribbon to form an upwardly faced channel, the said die having alongitudinally extending blade section and a transverse shearing bladesection connected thereto with their cutting edges in horizontalalignment with the cutting edge of I the die whereby and the shearingblade section make verticaimltl the longitudinal blade sectidn throughthe ribbon of clay at the upwardlyi'aced channel, thereby severing anotch at the end oi the portion iorming the tile adjacent the -Iiown-'wardly distorted end iorming'the closure, whereby theportionf 'vered informing the notch is'intei gral'with the waste piece of the ribbon.

9.In.a tile forming machine claimedin -claim 7, the carriagehaving oneor more longitudinal straps which ilt in the grooves formed in the clayribbon between the ribs 01' the tile below the web, the said straps attheir i'orlward edge being beveled whereby the die indistorting the weboi the, clay and the ends of the ribs a fillet on the underside of thetile adjacentthe- .beveled enda oi-the ribs.

10. In amachine for making roofing tile hav-.

ing a supporting structure to support a portion of a ribbon of clayhaving a web and ribs on-the underside with spacing grooves between theribs. the combination oi! a die having a straight transverse bottomcutting edge parallel to the web- 7 and an upwardly and rearwardlyloping distorting face, the slope being from the cutting edge, 1 meansto move the die downwardly and thereby sever the web and the ribs and atthe same: time downwardly distort the web and the ends of the rib toform a cross-rib-like structure at the, end

-and distorted .leadingend. r

or... b: the ronninga tile" cross-lihe-rib forming-a closureio'rtheends'oi the groove-on the' mdersideoi, the file when set' ,1

tor making-roofing tile as uponarooi. 11,111 a machine claimed in claim10, the die a longitudinal blade section connected to the sloping faceat one end thereof and a transverse shearing blade sectionconnected tothe longitudinal 'section'whereby the die'torms a short longitudinalanda transverse cut simultaneous with the cutiorming the end and closureof the tile and thereby. forms a notch at one side ot the tileadjacentits-closed l2. Ina machine for making rooting tile as claimed in claim10, the supporting structure having oneor more confining and supportingend of the straps. A

. I DAVIS BROWN.

AlOSliiPIilt.

' BRUNER MOORE 'BURCHFIEL.

